Bonner County seeking lean budgets

SANDPOINT — Bonner County department heads are being advised to submit bare-bones spending plans in light of the sputtering economy and falling revenues.

“There will be no raises for county employees,” county Commissioner Lewis Rich said on Tuesday.

The only exceptions involve sheriff’s deputies who obtain higher law enforcement certifications or employees who are promoted from one position to another already existing position.

Clerk Marie Scott distributed a memo to fellow department heads on Monday reminding them to make every effort to not only hold the bottom line, but find ways to reduce it further.

“We do not wish to mandate and across the board reduction. Instead, we need you to examine your budget and make voluntary cuts in your operations,” Scott said in the memo.

Scott acknowledged department heads could certainly swing for the fences in their budget requests, but recommended that they pick one or two priority items they will absolutely need in order to carry out their duties.

“Even at that, you need to know that most requests will not be filled,” she said.

Budget workshops are slated to get under way in July. Public hearings on the county’s overall spending plan are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Aug. 30, with formal adoption set for Sept. 1.